At the airport

Marc here:

Good to get to the airport early.  We were so excited to fly on the so-much-posher Air France that we went to the international terminal, only to find out that actually, we're flying on their partner airline.  Humdrum Delta just isn't as cook, but they do have a play area!

House clean, attic full

Marc writes:

Well, after months of prep, we are finally moving forward.  Starting back last summer when we began to talk about the application process, we have been working toward the day when we would close door behind us and check off the last of the to-do lists.  

Now, we are in Lexington for a last visit with Grandparents then later today we get on the airplane.

As the moving day has gotten closer, my sleep has gotten worse.  Generally I haven't been feeling the stress but, as I'm sure we have all experienced, that is the nature of stress.  Thankfully, last night, I slept we'll.  

On Fridays, we takes our malaria drug, a once a week drug with the common side effect is vivid dreams.  After a good night's sleep, I'm glad to find it the stress, not the drugs, that are messing with me.  Tonight, on the plane ride, hopefully Skylar and Sylvia will sleep well, giving me and Julienne the chance also to catch up.

A attic full

House empty.

Practice Travel Video

We watched a few travel videos online.  One guy who calls himself "yellowwproductions" had a few about Versailles that the kids really liked.  They're excited to ride electric golf carts around the gardens of the king.  I was excited about the travel video genre so, to make sure we actually make some videos, we did a practice on.  Here it is.

Two weeks to departure

Marc writes:

Two weeks to go before departure.  Dad and Margaret are here helping out with packing.  They took the kids for a day so Julienne and I could work on projects and sorting, then today, Dad worked on a big painting project and Margaret went through the whole pantry!  She also sat with Skylar as he sorted through bag after bag of "shelf" stuff - things the rest of the family has no use for but that Skylar, when he was younger, really loved.  Thankfully, he's getting better at letting things go as we try to not fill the attic with stuff we won't want on return!

We just got back from dinner with a friend, Elliot Kelly, with whom I worked in Amherst 4 years ago.  He and his family just returned from a two year stint teaching at a school in Singapore.  Interested to compare the experience he had in a very modern, clean, English speaking city with the experience we expect to have in Dakar, a modern, not super clean, French and Walof speaking city.  Stay tuned!

Boxes are on the way!

Our first big step to getting to Senegal.  The boxes are packed and Amadou has driven off with them.  27 boxes and bikes with over 1000 different little items we think will be good for our new life!  thanks Amadou.

Packing with children

The kids are enjoying the packing.  We're sending a number of things by boat and need to leave 2 months for the items to both get to Senegal as well as get thought customs.  So, only another few weeks before the shipping service comes to get them.  During that time, the kids are having much fun.  They call this their "coziness."

When it was time to bring the boxes downstairs, the kids were pretty helpful!  Together, Skyalr and Sylvia pushed all 23 boxes to the stairs and across the downstairs.  I (Marc) slide them down the stairs.

Passports Applied for

Today we went to the post office to apply for passports for the children.  Skylar spent the time fishing paper out of the garbage can and making his own passport on the back of the scrap he found.  "How did you learn to spell our last name?" Julienne asked.  "I listened to Dad say it on the phone," was his nonchalant answer.

The post officer noticed that both of our drivers licenses expire at the end of the year - add another thing to the list!

In our long preparation for Dakar, Senegal, I searched Netflix movies for Senegal and Dakar and came up with a documentary about a team taking part in the Paris to Dakar motor-bike race.  6000 miles on a motor cycle on mostly unpaved roads and unpaved sand dunes - no fun!  Anyhow, they showed shots of villages in the eastern part of Senegal and I couldn't believe it.  They look just like the National Geographic photos!


Marc